Terrell Bishop, when recalling his time as a former Pope County Sheriff, chuckled and said there was not much to remember about the pay — there wasn’t that much to be had.

One of the oldest-living retired sheriffs in Arkansas, Bishop, 88, was Pope County Sheriff from 1955-58 and is originally from New Hope.

He was honored with the Arkansas Sheriff’s Association Professional Service Award in 2011 for honorable law enforcement leadership and service. He was given the award at his church, First Assembly of God in Russellville.

There is much more to Bishop’s history. He still recalls the challenges and rewards of living in Arkansas and abroad as a young man.

“I was raised on the Arkansas River,” he said.

He has always fought for the rights of those who live under the Stars and Stripes.

Bishop built homes for a while after returning from the beaches of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, Japan. He is a decorated World War II veteran who served in the Navy until 1946.

Iwo Jima took the lives of 33 percent of the soldiers who fought there. More than 3,000 men were lost during first day of the conflict in February 1945.

Bishop was assigned to the U.S.S. Deuel (APA-160) and trained fellow soldiers to operate and exit the armored personnel assault vehicles used for storming the beachers of the Japanese Islands.

“I participated on the beaches of Okinawa and Iwo Jima,” Bishop said. “Prior to receiving final landing orders, we trained for beach takeovers. We dressed like Marines and trained with Army and Marine soldiers.”

The Arkansas State Police enjoyed Bishop’s service as a trooper for a while after he returned from the war in 1946.

“I loved the State Police,” he said. “I loved the sheriffs as well. I have a great deal of respect for what they dealt with and still do. They went until they could barely go any further.”

Bishop reminisced about the support he received from fellow law enforcement officers. He recalled the help he was given by one of many.

“Trooper John Scott helped me,” he said. “He loved his job and the work. If it took all night, he was there with you.”

He also shared his recollections of his time as the sheriff of Pope County.

“J.R. Owen was a hard worker,” Bishop said. “He was a true deputy and, although he had a lot to put up with, he loved his job.

“The wives of law enforcement officers had a lot to put up with too. They and their wives were extremely dedicated. They couldn’t have done it without the support of their wives.”

There were many challenges to being in law enforcement, Bishop said. Resources, such as money, affected the job, and political beliefs had a hand in how the sheriff’s office as well.

Sheriffs elected during his era were subject to an unwritten rule limiting terms of service. Voters at that time, if they would vote for you, would only elect you for two terms.

“There were so many people here the first year I went in [as sheriff],” Bishop said. “You were in and you were out. Voters in Pope County, then, believed in two terms. I served two terms and was out.”

The pay was meager for sheriffs, deputies and jailers in the 1950s. Times were difficult, but with the support of others they made it work, according to Bishop.

“The salary was very low,” he said. “The sheriff’s pay was about $75-$100 a month. I was also the county tax collector. That was an extra $50 a month. My late wife Maybeth, and father-in-law L.O. Tippin, worked at the jail on the courthouse fourth floor and made $50 a month between them.

“My father-in-law lived in the jailer’s apartment and took care of building maintenance. My wife cooked the meals for the inmates and made sure their medical needs were met through the county.”

According to Bishop, times were hard during his terms in office outside of wages. They had to go to the bank for operating funds because tax revenues were low.

“We had to go to the bank to get through the hard times,” he said. “We did pay them back when times got better. It was tough, but we made it through.”

The size of cells at the jail was an additional challenge for enforcing the law. It made for tight quarters and upset inmates.

“The jail was small, considering,” Bishop said. “ It would get crowded if we had a busy weekend. The deputies would help by making beds for inmates to sleep on. There were a lot of experiences with people helping us out.”

Bishop said inmates would often become rowdy and protested about the living conditions.

“Inmates would rebel because of cramped quarters and not much to eat,” he said. “They didn’t think they were being taken care of. It was my responsibility, and I did the best I could with the money I had to work with.”

Resources for understanding the truths about history are growing few and far between as time passes. There is one man, a former Pope County Sheriff, who was willing to enlighten folks about his time in the Arkansas River Valley.

This sheriff remembers the love, support and those involved with supporting law enforcement efforts.

Mr Bishop, The first thing I want to do is thank you for your service. Very few living today know what a terrible thing Okinawa and Iwo Jima were. My uncle served beside you at both places.

Your experience is a very valuable thing as it related to law enforcement, and it is an example of why military service is so valuable in the day to day operations of the sheriffs department, and why it should be a deciding factor as to who is elected to the office of sheriff.

I hope that Danny doesn't mind me saying so, but Danny Cothern was the finest candidate for sheriff that we have had in quite some time. Any man that has been directly in combat is uniquely qualified to make life and death decisions, and their perspective and experience can resolve a bad situation, and save the lives of those officers and citizens that are involved.

There are some things that we can truly be proud of in the river valley, and you and your service is one of those things. I hope to shake your hand and thank you personally in the near future.

Good for you, Brad. Make sure you help him all you can, and take the time to talk with him about all the events in his life. I would really like to hear his experiences in the service, and during his time as sheriff.

I was in the sheriffs department building the other day and took the time to look at his picture on the wall with other past sheriffs.